THE
ROMANCE OF THE ROSE
I
The famed Romance that hight the Rose,
Behold! love’s art its leaves enclose.
Are dreams false or true?
Full many a man hath cried amain
That dreams and visions are but vain
Imaginings and lies, but I
Believe that they may truthfully
Forecast the future; and full clear
And plain this matter doth appear
By that famed dream of Scipio,
Whereof Macrobius long ago10
The story wrote, and stoutly he
Affirmeth dreams for verity.
Moreover, if one think or say
That fond and foolish ’tis to pay
Respect to visions, seeing that ne’er
They prove them true, that man may dare
To call me fool, for I avow
That I dim night-tide’s warnings trow
Sincerely, and believe that they,
Of good and ill, to men betray20
The shadow, showing darkly all
That shall in day’s clear light befall.
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